Letter to the editor - May 13 - In regards to the SJRA, the truth shall see the light of day

Published
12:00 am CDT, Wednesday, May 13, 2020

In regards to the SJRA, the truth shall see the light of day

To the editor,

The first casualty of war is truth. The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) continues to deny the factual truths about their GRP water scheme as they continue to promote their self aggrandizement. Fortunately we are blessed to have the constitutional right to challenge government. When this happens, you have a “legal war.” In the case of the SJRA /GRP scheme, (a forced groundwater pumping reduction ), we have a “legal war” which represents a monumental failure of a state agency’s leadership.

Because citizenry doesn’t get to decide legal issues, SJRA’s deceptive efforts, exaggeration, or outright lies, serve only to continue their denial of the truth, and promote their efforts to con the citizenry into accepting them, all at the taxpayer’s expense.

SJRA doesn’t talk about the fact they, and the Woodlands Joint Powers Assoc. (WJPA), both served together as directors on the previous appointed LSGCD board. It’s both shocking and amazing the previous appointed board operated under a “NO Conflicts of Interest “ provision … do as you wish.

Together SJRA and the WJPA both share in the responsibility for adopting the “illegal” forced groundwater pumpage reduction rule that gave birth to the SJRA / GRP contract scheme, and delivered skyrocketing water bills to many of us in Montgomery County.

SJRA and the WJPA fail to tell you the forced groundwater pumpage reduction rule was declared illegal by State Judge McCorkle as being “illegal from the beginning.”

Mr. Kelling, it’s time you and SJRA “chew” on the truth about what really happened, as SJRA “drove the bus” on this. SJRA wanted to move their water in Lake Conroe to The Woodlands and wanted everyone else to help pay for it.

In another brazen display of arrogance by SJRA, Ron Kelling, Assistant G.M., closed out his recent possible rate increase scenarios for FY 2020-21 with his condescending remark of, “Chew on these numbers and chew on these scenarios.”

It’s past time SJRA chews on the truth. Thank you Mr. Sequeira for your letter to the editor April 30. SJRA needs to stop demonizing and blaming you and the other plaintiffs for SJRA’s problems, legal challenges and possible rate increases; after all, the plaintiffs did not create the GRP scheme.

The plaintiffs deserve the public’s support for defending their constitutional rights, private property rights and their family businesses against illegal government overreach that thrives on monopolistic styled operations. The municipal plaintiffs are defending their citizens and taxpayers. SJRA, you are not an untouchable water God or King.

By the way, in case you missed it, the “discovery” process is about to start in Federal Court for the Anti-Trust suit with a trial date set for May 2021. SJRA has a lot to “chew on” while they also prepare for their price differential suit, two Fraud suits and their scheduled appointment with the Sunset Review Commission.